LA Kings television play-by-play announcer Bob Miller,
the Voice of the Kings, visited the press box
at Staples Center, which is named in his honor,
and showed off some pretty fancy jewelry
that he had recently acquired.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: Gann Matsuda/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES — In the days prior to their season opener at Staples Center on Saturday, to a man, the Los Angeles Kings talked about “flipping a switch” after the on-ice ceremony in which they would receive their 2012 Stanley Cup Championship rings, and raise the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters.

Somewhat predictably, that switch remained in the “off” position for the vast majority of the game that followed, and the visiting Chicago Blackhawks took full advantage, handing the Kings a 5-2 defeat in front of a standing room only crowd of 18,545 fans.

During the pre-game festivities, the Kings received their rings, carried the Stanley Cup around the ice, and raised the banner to the rafters in what had to be an emotional ceremony that was televised nationally.

Fortunately for the Kings, NBC switched to regional coverage after the ceremony, sparing much of the country from seeing the Kings’ poor effort.

“We’re ready to close that chapter [winning the Stanley Cup last season] and start a new one,” said winger and team captain Dustin Brown. “But we weren’t nearly as sharp as we wanted to be.”

LA Kings left wing Jordan Nolan is shown here during his “Day With The Cup” on August 20, 2012, in his hometown of Garden River, Ontario.
(click to view larger image)
Photo: Howie Borrow/Hockey Hall of Fame
via the Los Angeles Kings

But Nolan, 23, has gotten off to a slow start after suffering a broken right pinky finger during a fight in the first game of the season.

“[The healing process] is going well,” Nolan told Frozen Royalty during an exclusive interview. “I’m still working out and skating.”

“[Nolan has] been skating, but he’s still a ways away,” said Monarchs head coach Mark Morris.

Nolan, who is listed as week-to-week, is not only back in Manchester again, but he is also back with an old roommate.

“[Defenseman] Jake Muzzin and I are living together,” said Nolan. “We lived together the past three years. The first year was Jake, [defenseman] Andrew Campbell, [left wing] Dwight King and myself. Last year, it was Muzzin, King and myself. But this year, it’s just Read more of this post

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: Since the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup last June, the vast majority of the attention has been on the their players, for reasons that should be obvious. But someone had to show them the way, and someone else had to put all the pieces together. In part eight of a series featuring the long-time broadcasters of the Los Angeles Kings, they share their thoughts on the contributions of head coach Darryl Sutter and President/General Manager Dean Lombardi.

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — Before the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup on June 11, 2012, they were a mostly beleaguered franchise that was known much more for stumbling and bumbling its way through its 45-year history than anything else.

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: In the fourth installment of this series featuring the broadcasters of the Los Angeles Kings, radio play-by-play announcer Nick Nickson shares his thoughts about the Kings winning the Stanley Cup last June, and what it means to him.

LOS ANGELES — While the National Hockey League owners and players are locked in yet another ridiculous, unnecessary labor squabble, subjecting their fans to the fourth work stoppage since 1992, the Stanley Cup is in the hands of those who are engraving 52 names from the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings onto it.

With some pre-season games already lost (through September 30), and the opening of training camps on hold as the two sides continue to do everything but negotiate seriously and work to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Los Angeles Kings have had a bit more time than most teams to bask in the limelight following their first Stanley Cup win in franchise history on June 11, 2012.

Indeed, many Kings employees, not just the players, coaches, trainers, equipment staff, management, and owners, have had an opportunity to have their own time with the Stanley Cup, not to mention the public events for fans and season ticket holders. Even better, the Stanley Cup will return Read more of this post

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: Frozen Royalty attended the Stanley Cup party hosted by Los Angeles Kings video coordinator Bill Gurney and his wife, Tina Gustin-Gurney, on September 15. In addition to comments from Bill Gurney, the story includes extensive remarks from Mike Bolt, one of the Keepers of the Cup, and a photo essay.

WESTMINSTER, CA — On its final day in Southern California before heading to points east, winding its way into Toronto and Montreal before ending up at the engraver on September 22, the Stanley Cup made three stops on September 15, including a party held that evening by former Los Angeles Kings left wing and current radio color commentator Daryl Evans.

But its first stop was at the Westminster, California home of Kings Video Coordinator Bill Gurney and his wife, Tina Gurstin-Gurney, who welcomed over 200 people to their home for the chance to take photographs with hockey’s version of the Holy Grail.

Family, friends, long-time Kings fans, some of Tina’s former students (she’s a teacher) and others, all got an opportunity with that majestic trophy.

“[You think about] all the people you’ve worked with over the years,” Bill said. “It’s been in the background for so long, and finally, we won it. Everybody’s got to celebrate that.”

The logos of the Los Angeles Kings, the 29 other National Hockey League teams, and of the National Hockey League, are trademarks of their respective rightsholders and are used with permission of the National Hockey League.